As Mentioned – Page 42 – Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men

As Mentioned in Episode 25 – The Best at What He Does

October 6, 2014 Jay 4 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Art by David Wynne, after Katsushika Hokusai. Prints available until 10/12; or contact David to purchase the original.

Because you demanded it: Probably a Summers Brother t-shirts (light or dark backgrounds) and other gear are now a thing that exist, and which you can purchase using moneydollars!

Welcome to the Wolverine comic that will forever set the bar for Wolverine comics.

Shingen: Totally a dick. (Wolverine #1)

Seriously. This asshole. (Wolverine #1)

Things that never get old: Frank Miller drawing Wolverine beating up on Ninja. (Wolverine #2)

Other things that never get old: Our favorite lady, Yukio! (Wolverine #2)

Okay, look, like 2/3 of this gallery is just going to be us drooling over these amazing Frank Miller fight scenes. Deal with it. (Wolverine #2)

Mariko is less impressed with Miller’s stylish portrayal of gruesome violence. (Wolverine #2)

MORE NINJA! (Wolverine #3)

Yukio, ladies and gentlemen. (Wolverine #3)

Taking a break from drooling over stylish fight scenes to drool over a stylish chase scene. (Wolverine #3)

If you’re not hearing the narration in Steve Blum’s voice, you’re doing Wolverine wrong. (Wolverine #4)

LOOK AT THAT NARRATIVE SYMMETRY. (Wolverine #4)

We were going to choose one or two panels from this fight scene, but, nope, it’s perfect. Deal. (Wolverine #4)

HOLY BALLS FRANK MILLER (Wolverine #4)

The X-Men show up to congratulate Wolverine on the completion of his first solo miniseries. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

Look at that adorable Ninja meet-cute! Also: Pretty sure Smith is taking a cue from Miller with the sudden influx of vertical panels and silhouetted buildings. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

Yeah, look, remember how we said this was gonna all be Miller fight scenes? There will also be a lot of Storm and Yukio, because, Storm and Yukio. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

In which Kitty Pryde realizes that Wolverine has been moonlighting in a significantly less code-sensitive series. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

There is literally nothing that you can tell us that will convince us that these two ladies are not Totally Doin’ It. (Uncanny X-Men #172)

Meanwhile, Rogue and Wolverine bond over casual violence. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

Seriously. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

Totally Doin’ It. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

They should really just hand out little warning pamphlets about Mastermind. What a dick. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

Remember when Madelyne Pryor was AWESOME? Sigh. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

Ooh, burn. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

THAT SINGLE TEAR. (Uncanny X-Men #173)

John Byrne’s original concept for what Wolverine would look like under the mask. He ended up using this design for Sabretooth instead.

Next Week: The New Mutants meet Team America!

As Mentioned in Episode 24 – Ororo, Queen of the Galaxy

September 28, 2014 Jay 18 comments

Listen to the episode here!

ORORO, QUEEN OF THE GALAXY, by David Wynne. (Prints available here until October 5.)

Lockheed vs. Pete Wisdom. (Excalibur #97)

Ironically, the thing she’s mad about might be the one time he actually isn’t, but the point stands in general. (X-Men #168)

Lockheed lurks. (X-Men #168)

This isn’t really relevant to the episode–we’re just hoping someone will use it as the basis for a Kitty Pryde magical-girl transformation sequence. (X-Men #168)

Scott and Lee: STILL AWESOME. (X-Men #168)

Before that one Hawkeye thing, there was this. (X-Men #168)

AWESOME TEAM-UP OF AWESOME. (X-Men #168)

But I think we all know the REAL point of X-Men #168. (We’re reviving this for this week’s art challenge – send your Kitty Pryde costume redesigns to xplainthexmen(at)gmail(dot)com!)

Very Nude Nightcrawler. (X-Men #169)

Dragon-sitting is basically the X-Men girlfriend test. (X-Men #169)

Remember that time X-Men straight-up did Barbarella? (Also the time Angel got pinned up by his wings in the Morlock tunnels. No, not that time. The other time.) (X-Men #169)

This cover is slashy in every sense of the word. (X-Men #170)

Well, then. (X-Men #170)

Remember that time Storm straight-up stabbed someone through the heart? BECAUSE THAT DEFINITELY HAPPENED. (X-Men #170)

And then Walt Simonson drew Storm, and we had Feelings. (X-Men #171)

Rogue also has feelings, but they’re less about the transcendent perfection of Simonson’s art than about her out-of-control powers. Sorry, Rogue. (X-Men #171)

Well, that escalated quickly. (X-Men #171)

This might be the most Rogue moment ever. (X-Men #171)

Remember that time Professor X was actually pretty fucking awesome? (X-Men #171)

For full effect, you have to imagine Wolverine’s lines in Steven Blum’s voice. I mean, you should really be doing that anyway. (X-Men #172)

YUKIO. Much, much more about her next week, but she’s the best. (X-Men #172)

For real, there is literally nothing you can say that will convince Rachel that these two are not TOTALLY DOING IT. (X-Men #173)

They really can’t kick her off the team after that. (X-Men #173)

BRB HAVING FEELINGS. (X-Men #173)

Oh. THAT asshole. (X-Men #173)

Meanwhile in Alaska, the most awkward meet-cute ever. (X-Men #168)

Here’s the thing about Scott and Madelyne: they’re actually kind of awesome together. Doomed, but awesome. (X-Men #170)

As a character who’s spent most of his life in a Claremont-written world, Scott is unfamiliar with the concept of coincidence. (X-Men #171)

Then, again, having spent years reading stories set in a Claremont-written world, we find it difficult to believe that this was actually just supposed to have been a coincidence. (X-Men #172)

Lilandra agrees. (X-Men #173)

HEPZIBAH, NEVER CHANGE. (X-Men #174)

This is funny because both of these relationships are super doomed. (X-Men #174)

A brief interlude of adorability from these goofy kids. (X-Men #174)

REMEMBER THAT PRIEST? Yeah. Totally Mastermind. God damnit, Mastermind. (X-Men #174)

Look, it’s a reasonable question under the circumstances. (X-Men #174)

Oh. (X-Men #174)

WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY. (X-Men #175)

Okay. This looks bad. (X-Men #175)

Really bad. (X-Men #175)

Really, really bad. (X-Men #175)

Cyclops-gritting-his-teeth-and-being-brilliant-in-the-face-of-impossible-odds is the best Cyclops. (X-Men #175)

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh. (X-Men #175)

Not elegant, but efficient. (X-Men #175)

This is a really good speech, as such things go, but it’s also really funny that he went to the graveyard in his tux. (X-Men #175)

And then they lived happily ever… oh. (X-Men #175)

Next week: Wolverine demonstrates the Inverse Ninja Law.

As Mentioned In Episode 23 – Meet the New Mutants

September 20, 2014 Jay 6 comments

Listen to the episode here!

Art by David Wynne

Nova Roma. It’s probably best not to ask.

These kids!

It’s really convenient that Rahne landed in that particular position. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

In which Moira MacTaggert is a stone cold badass. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Roberto da Costa is so very much Roberto da Costa. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

He’s also Sunspot! (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Meanwhile, a disembodied hand has some opinions to share. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Sam Guthrie is such a good kid. Also nigh invulnerable when he’s blastin’! (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Danielle Moonstar is the best, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell something. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Xi’an Coy Mahn actually been around for a few issues–and made her debut in another title altogether–so she’s an old hand at this. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Aw, Bobby. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Sam is the nicest henchman ever, and we love him very much. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Donald Pierce knows he has standards to meet when it comes to villainous exposition. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Remember how Sam is the nicest henchman? (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Yeah. Sam is the nicest henchman. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Let’s break this down: Bobby’s room contains a pinup calendar and a framed photo of Wolverine; and his idea of heaven is a place where his dead girlfriend can watch him put on tights. Headcanon: Bobby’s secondary mutation is being the most 14-year-old boy of all the 14-year-old-boys, ever. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

“It is time… FOR A CALLBACK TO MY FIRST APPEARANCE!” (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Danielle Moonstar is still the best, and Xavier is not actually a jerk in this book. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Aw, Sam. (Marvel Graphic Novel #4)

Over nearly a decade, the New Mutants will go from this… (New Mutants #21)

…to this. Marvel, this is why you can’t have nice things. (New Mutants #100)

In her first appearance, Lila Cheney steals and fences Earth. She is the interstellar bandit Joan Jett of the Marvel Universe, and she is wonderful. (New Mutants Annual #1)

The Hellions. They’re all super doomed. (New Mutants #17)

Next week: The X-Men do Barbarella.

As Mentioned in Episode 22 – Through Death and Through Life

September 7, 2014 Jay 8 comments

Listen to the episode here!

At some point, someone pointed out that this is technically Anniversary X, and it was a pretty slippery slope from there.

We are aware that our favorite romance has its share of detractors. We don’t care. (Art by David Wynne.)

Actual photograph of Rachel and Miles at their 8th-grade graduation dance. (X-Men #32)

This is literally as explicit a conversation they have about it for… pretty much the entire Silver Age. (X-Men #32)

Proposal #1. Unfortunately, Jean is a) actually the Phoenix Force, and b) about to die on the moon. (Uncanny X-Men #136)

Not directly pertinent, but it’s one of our favorite moments. (Uncanny X-Men #137)

Scott saying goodbye to Jean immediately before marrying Madelyne Pryor. That really, really didn’t work out, but we like the sentiment–that “true love” doesn’t always have to mean “one true love.” (Uncanny X-Men #175)

Scott doesn’t actually work out that Madelyne and Jean are identical until X-Factor #14. Headcanon: Hella prosopagnosia.

Scott and Jean are reunited in a panel that appears to have fled from Apartment 3-G to X-Factor #1.

Jean gets Madelyne and Phoenix’s memories–and her own telepathy–back. (X-Factor #38)

Proposal #2. (X-Factor #53)

Jean’s response. (X-Factor #53)

“Fatal Attractions” was a rough time for everyone, but probably worst for Wolverine. (X-Men vol. 2 #75)

Proposal #3, guest-starring John Romita, Jr.’s profoundly alarming faces. (Uncanny X-Men #308)

Fate can go fuck itself. Damn, we love these two. (Uncanny X-Men #308)

There is probably no other panel from the entire 50 years of X-Men that we’ve sent back and forth more than this one. (Uncanny X-Men #308)

He’s actually fighting some dude who broke into the X-mansion and bonding with his time-displaced kid, but the basic principle of failing-at-bachelor-party still stands. (Uncanny X-Men #310)

And now, the main event. (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

Andy Kubert x body language. (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

Charles Xavier of X-Men vol. 2 #30 is the best Charles Xavier.

He also has the best timing. (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

Look at all those X-Men. (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

Can we have a moment of silent appreciation for the fact that Storm managed to find a dress that perfectly encapsulates the 1990s? (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

Best vows? Best vows. (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

Scott, Jean, we’re gonna let you finish… (X-Men vol. 2 #30)

…but Rogue and Gambit’s kiss in X-Men vol. 2 #41 is the best kiss in X-Men.

September 4, 2014.

Links:

Print of the week! You can find prints of David Wynne’s “Haters Gonna Hate” Scott & Jean illustration over at our shop until September 14–or drop David a line to buy the original!
The real Cats Laughing

NEXT WEEK: Rachel and Miles are going on vacation. Read a book. WEEK AFTER NEXT: The New Mutants!

As Mentioned in Episode 21 – Kurt Busiek at the Coffee-a-Go-Go

August 31, 2014 Jay 8 comments

Listen to the episode here!

METOXO the lava man, as teased in X-Men #48–but never revealed!

Beast and Iceman teach METOXO the true meaning of Christmas in the 1994 Marvel Holiday Special.

Angel X-Plains the Phoenix retcon. (X-Factor #1)

In X-Men #37, five reasonably normal-looking teenagers dive out of a plane…

…and then this happens. (X-Men #37)

In which Jean Grey, given the choice between the Silver Age’s two stock career options for female protagonists, opts for option A. (X-Men #48)

Scott Summers’ radio career lasted five whole panels. Here are four of them. We remain annoyed that none of them actually show him recording, because that would be really useful as a podcast graphic. (X-Men #48)

The Coffee-a-Go-Go made its debut in X-Men #7, along with regular Bernard the Poet and acerbic waitress Zelda.

There are a lot of Coffee-a-Go-Go stories, but Bobby’s 18th birthday, from X-Men #32, is probably the best.

Bernard the poet sells out in the name of birthday cheer. (X-Men #32)

Zelda’s original line, from X-Men #7 (she was originally a redhead)…

…and Busiek’s homage in the 1994 Marvel Holiday Special.

Iceman vs. ice skating. (X-Men #29)

We’ll be giving it its own post on Monday, but David Wynne’s art of the original X-Men as Enid Blyton’s Famous Five goes way too well with this episode.

Next Episode: Fast-forwarding to 1994 for the wedding of Scott Summers and Jean Grey.

Links & Further Reading:

Kurt Busiek
Unpublished X-Men
The X-Axis Silver-Age Index (archived)
Marvels
X-Men #32
X-Men #37
X-Men #48
Marvel Holiday Special 1994
Slan, by A. E. van Vogt
Children of the Atom, by Wilmar H. Shiras
Mutant, by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon
The Dark Is Rising Sequence, by Susan Cooper
Astro City
Tooth and Claw

As Mentioned on Episode 19 – Acorns and Swords

August 17, 2014 Jay 19 comments

Listen to the episode here!

(Hand not to scale.) (X-Men #160)

She knows how to dodge radioactive mutants and spinning saw blades, but no one has given Illyana the talk about not taking bloodstone amulets from strangers. (X-Men #160)

If there were a drinking game, “Storm spontaneously takes a shower indoors” would be on the list. (X-Men #160)

Oops. (X-Men #160)

Kitty, you adorable nerd. (X-Men #160)

Aw. Man. Why are all the evil alternate Nightcrawlers super creepy and rapey? (X-Men #160)

This asshole. (X-Men #160)

Remember this dude. You will be seeing more of him. (X-Men #160)

EMERGO! (X-Men #160)

Whoa. (X-Men #160)

BUT WHERE COULD SHE HAVE BEEN? If only there were a miniseries that answered that very question! (X-Men #160)

Belasco, man. (X-Men #160)

Oh, hey, those guys. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

For obvious reasons, Magik includes a lot of very direct callbacks to X-Men #160. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

“Body and soul.” Take a drink. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

CAT WHAT ARE YOU WEARING WHY WOULD YOU WEAR THAT (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

So, here’s a thing: There’s a lot of creepily suggestive language about Belasco’s plans for Illyana, but none of it is reflected in the actual story. Make of that what you will, but it seems worth mentioning, for both parts. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

Aw, Cat. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

This is going to be important later. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #1)

S’ym is a pretty pitch-perfect kid’s nightmare: a friendly, slightly silly-looking monster who’s actually one of the most sadistic, dangerous guys in the building. He’s gonna be around for a long time, too, and he only gets scarier. (Storm and Illyana: Magik #2)